CHONBURI, Thailand – Authorities have launched legal action against BNS Steel Group Co., Ltd. in Chonburi province after an investigation revealed the company produced and sold substandard steel rebar that failed to meet national quality standards. The investigation, ordered by Industry Minister Akanat Promphan, followed consumer complaints from Phuket, where construction steel snapped during use. Laboratory tests confirmed that steel samples from the site lacked the required boron content, prompting an on-site inspection.
The inspection, led by personnel from the Ministry’s “Sud Soi” inspection team, uncovered several violations at the factory, including unregistered machinery, failure to meet environmental regulations, unauthorized facility expansion, and the sale of low-quality steel. Authorities also discovered illegal industrial waste sales and links to another company, Well Established Co., Ltd., operating on the same premises. The companies were found to be part of a major distribution network involving suspicious activities by numerous Chinese nationals.
BNS Steel Group now faces five criminal charges, including manufacturing and selling non-compliant products, misusing the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) certification mark, and tampering with officially seized materials. Penalties range from fines of up to 2 million baht to imprisonment of up to three years, depending on the offense. The Office of the Trade Competition Commission is continuing to investigate the company’s operations and potential violations of competition laws.
To prevent further use of substandard steel in construction projects, authorities have ordered the company to recall all defective products from the market and submit a detailed distribution report within seven days to help notify vendors and the public.
The Ministry of Industry has also called for a review of government oversight to determine if any officials failed in their duty to prevent repeated violations. The case highlights the importance of public reporting in identifying unsafe industrial practices and holding companies accountable under the law. (NNT)
